Effect of dry needling technique on spastic upper extremity muscles in patients with chronic ischemic stroke

Not Applicable

Conditions: Ischemic stroke.
Cerebral infarction

Registration Number: IRCT20200904048609N1

Lead Sponsor: Shiraz University of Medical Sciences

Brief Summary: Not available

Detailed Description: Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: Pending

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 24

Inclusion Criteria

Age between 35-65 years old
Stroke occurrence for first time
History of stroke onset at least 6 months and maximum of 2 years prior to the study
Spasticity existence in the wrist and fingers flexor muscles ( +1 to 3 based on the modified Ashworth scale)
Not taking any antispasmodics during the study for at least one month before the study beginning
Having minimal grip ability
Ability to understand and follow commands
Absence of cognitive impairment (Mini-Mental State Examination score >24)

Exclusion Criteria

Recurrent stroke
Having other neurological diseases
Cervical radiculopathy
Fixed contracture in wrist and finger muscles
Treatment with other therapies during this study
History of physiotherapy treatments in less than a month prior to study
History of treatment with dry needling technique after a stroke
Previous treatment with nerve blocks or neurolytic agents injection in motor point or Infiltration of botulinum toxin At any time after stroke
Uncontrolled hypertension
Uncontrolled diabetes
Upper limb fracture
Any absolute contraindication for using of deep dry needling (such as pregnancy, infection, coagulation defect, seizures or mental disorders, and fear of needles)
Reluctance to continue participating in the study

Study & Design

Study Type: interventional

Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Spasticity. Timepoint: Before treatment, after the last treatment session, 1 month after the last treatment sessions. Method of measurement: Modified Ashworth scale.;Muscle thickness of FCU, FCR and FDP; Separately for each muscle, and generally for flexor group. Timepoint: Before treatment, after the last treatment session, 1 month after the last treatment sessions. Method of measurement: Sonography.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Flexor muscles compressibility. Timepoint: Before treatment, after the last treatment session, 1 month after the last treatment sessions. Method of measurement: Sonography.;Wrist reflex torque. Timepoint: Before treatment, after the last treatment session, 1 month after the last treatment sessions. Method of measurement: Isokinetic machine.;Wrist peak torque. Timepoint: Before treatment, after the last treatment session, 1 month after the last treatment sessions. Method of measurement: Isokinetic machine.;Upper limb motor function. Timepoint: Before treatment, after the last treatment session, 1 month after the last treatment sessions. Method of measurement: Fugl-Meyer scale.;Upper limb skill. Timepoint: Before treatment, after the last treatment session, 1 month after the last treatment sessions. Method of measurement: Box and block test.